Where to find the best bars in Paris

You’ve just made it to Paris and you’re on the hunt for a good place to have a few drinks with friends? Say no more, we’ve got you covered.

Sure, any watering hole will do for a good time. But if you’re in town for networking, and you like a barman that serves a glass of Remy Martin Louis XIII without batting an eyelid; any watering hole simply won’t do. Those in the list below however, are exactlywhat you’re looking for.

Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris – Le Bar

Jeff Leatham’s floral arrangements attracts people into the George V’s lobby but Le Bar, is the honey that makes them stick around a little longer. One for the more mature crowd, Le Bar is a cosy setting where you can enjoy a well made coffee or gourmet cocktail after work or before heading out to explore Paris. The classic setting, (Chandelier, Louis XVI furniture, a fireplace and library) is plush and the crowd is a mix of Paris’s well heeled and discerning travelers.

Hôtel Plaza Athénée – Le Bar du Plaza

Opening hours: 18:00 – 2.00Address: 25, avenue Montaigne

The Hôtel Plaza Athénée’s collaboration with Sanjit Manku and Patrick Jouin continues with the hotel’s freshly re-designed bar. And it’s a winner. The dreamlike design is unlike anything you’ll see in Paris (or the world for that matter) and the menu and service have been revamped to match the décor.

No need to wait for a cocktail menu. You can now summon it with a flash code, read it on your smartphone, and order away. As for the drinks, they come in small, medium and large sizes so you don’t ever have to overdo it (unless you want to of course).

This relaxed hangout even has a DJ spinning after 11 pm, so if you want to groove and mingle with Parisian socialites, this is the address.

Le Ritz Paris – Hemingway Bar

Opening Hours: 18:00 p.m – 2:00 a.mAddress: 15, Place Vendôme

The Hemingway Bar, obviously. It’s been the discerning travelers’ bar of choice for years and now that it’s nice and renovated, passing up on it is pure folly. Despite major overhauls across the hotel, the atmosphere and décor of the bar remains intact, so if you’re a Hemingway orphan finding your way back home, you’ll know what to expect. Don’t come here to nurse your drink in a corner though. This is a place to mingle and if you’d like to be introduced, Head Bartender Colin Field will be more than happy to do so… and make you a custom cocktail along the way.

Le Meurice – Bar 228

Opening hours: 12 p.m – 1.00 amAddress: 228, rue de Rivoli

All the bars in this post are A-list material, but if you really want to see Parisian glamour at its finest; head for Le Meurice. It’s been the haunt of international celebrities for years (from Dali to Jay Z) and the Bar 228 is where they drink while they’re in town.

Redesigned by Philip Stark, the bar’s dark wood interiors and plush leather chairs give it a classic English gentleman’s club feel. Top it all off with the tuxedoed waiters, tapestries, and molding, and you’d be forgiven to think you’ve stepped back in time. Don’t worry, the people you’ll meet are the 21st century’s most talked, tweeted and instagrammed about. No doubt about it.

Mandarin Oriental Paris – Bar 8

Opening hours: 11 a.m – 2.amAddress: 251, rue Saint-Honoré

If you want to take a break from the formality of Paris’s Palace hotels, the Mandarin Oriental is the perfect antidote. Located on the fashionable rue Saint-Honoré, it’s the ideal place to stay while on a Parisian shopping spree and to unwind between stores, you won’t find a better pit stop than the Bar 8.

The bar’s suave looks are perfect for a get together with friends or pre dinner drinks (Sur Mesure by Thierry Marx is right next door) and in the warmer months, you can step outside in the hotel’s mini garden to sip on a drink or feast on nibbles alfresco. Enjoy it while you’re there, this much green space at the heart of Paris is a rarity. It’s practically an oasis.

Le Bristol – Le Bar du Bristol

Le Bristol has been around since 1925, but its new bar – aptly named Le Bar du Bristol – is made for the millennials and the young at heart.

The magic of this bar lies in its well crafted cocktail menu imagined by Head Barman Maxime Hoerth. The first barman to win the status of Best Craftsman of France, Hoerth’s innovative concoctions are a must try and are perfectly complimented by a three Michelin Star Tapas menu by Chef Eric Frechon. With a DJ spinning 4 nights a week, Le Bar du Bristol is much younger and hype that what you’d expect from this Parisian classic.